He was just a cat in a lot of ways.  Slept most of the time, ate when he felt like it, and did what he had to do when he had to do it.  

We met him back in August of 1996 up in the Boston area when he was just about 6 months old. When we walked into the shelter, he looked at us as if to say, "it’s about time you got here, I’ve been waiting a while, now bring me home.”  On that first of what would become many rides in the family cars, we asked him his name…several times.  Since he didn’t respond, we decided that it would be appropriate to make it easy and fun, and just named him after us.  That was it…'David’ was the name, and mischievous kitteh would be the game.  

From that day forward, and for the next nearly 18 years, he frolicked, acted insane, loved on and smote the other cat we got for him as a playmate many times before that poor guy passed away, snuck outside when he could once in a while, and just brought a tremendous amount of joy and fun as a permanent member of our family and household.  He became my faithful companion and travel partner, taught me a bit about myself, and thereby helped me do my part to raise my son into the tough/tender, amazing man he has become, and he was always glad to see me as my personal reception committee whenever I arrived home from the day or frequent business trip.  

He never demanded much really.  Just for me to meet his basic needs; and for that, he loved me unconditionally.  He loved to be patted, loved people, and loved the other pets that he met along the way through his long life.  I will always miss the low rumble of his purring and the neat way he would answer me when I talked to him by simply opening his mouth and not making a sound or just flicking his tail in response. It was as though he just wanted me to know that he heard and understood me.

I found this little poem that I felt appropriate to share at this moment.

Member of the Family...

What would I do without you, my precious furry friend; part mischief, but all blessing and faithful to the end.

You look at me with eyes of love, and you never hold a grudge; you think I’m far too wonderful to criticize or judge.

It seems your greatest joy in life is being close to me; I think God knew how comforting your warm soft fur would be.

I know you think you’re human, but I’m glad it isn’t true; the world would be a nicer place if folks were more like you.

A few short years are all we have, one day we’ll have to part; but you my pet will always have a place within my heart.

Author unknown. 

I don’t know if there is really a place in Heaven like the "Rainbow Bridge” for our furry family members, but I sure hope so, because I am going to miss my beloved pet and friend 'David’ until the day I am called home myself, and I’d sure love to be greeted by my personal reception committee once again.

Goodbye my sweet, precious kitten.  Daddy loves you. 

Publisher's note:  America lost another of the Greatest Generation yesterday.  Anyone that has seen or heard of the movie 'Band of Brothers' should be familiar with Mr. Guarnere, as his story was a prominent part in that saga of bravery that played out during the Battle of the Bulge in the Ardennes Forest near the end of WWII so long ago.  

We can never thank them enough, nor do I believe we will ever have the sort of national pride that the Greatest Generation mustered to defeat our enemies and make the world safer for a while.

Rest in Eternal Peace William 'Wild Bill' Guanere.  The Patriots Press joins our nation in saluting you. 

Fox News:  William "Wild Bill" Guarnere, one of the World War II veterans whose exploits were dramatized in the TV miniseries "Band of Brothers," has died. He was 90.

His son, William Guarnere Jr., confirmed Sunday that his father died at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Guarnere was rushed to the hospital early Saturday and died of a ruptured aneurysm early Saturday night.

The younger Guarnere told FoxNews.com that like so many of his generation, "Wild Bill" didn't talk about his service, even though he lost his leg in combat.

"All we knew was he lost his leg, and that was it," William Guarnere Jr. said. "People knew more about (his service) than we did."

The HBO miniseries, based on a book by Stephen Ambrose, followed the members of Easy Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne Division from training in Georgia in 1942 through some of the war's fiercest European battles through the war's end in 1945.  

Click for complete story...   

Publisher's note:  Although I had been aware of him and his affliction with the rare medical condition known as Progeria Syndrome, I never had the opportunity to meet Sam Berns, and it seems unfitting to publish his story, one filled with so much life, under this column heading.  You see, Sam Berns wasn’t your average teen; he wasn’t caught up in his own plight.  Instead, Sam lived his all too short life richly as an inspiration to everyone he came into contact with.  Never letting his condition get him down, he remained positive, upbeat, and he taught all those who knew and knew of him a new perspective.  

When so many of us get frazzled by such little things as the inconvenience of missing out on the early bird special at our local diner, or finding out they made our coffee wrong when we’re a mile away from the coffee shop; the memory of Sam Berns and so many others that cope with daily end of life struggles should stand as a stark reminder of just how truly blessed we all are.

The Patriots Press extends our deepest. heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of this brave young man who touched so many lives.  Rest in Peace Sam Berns. 

Fox News:  A Massachusetts teen credited with inspiring legions through his brave fight against an extremely rare illness died Friday -- one day before he was to serve as honorary captain for the New England Patriots’ at a playoff game.  

MyFoxBoston reports Sam Berns, 17, died from complications related to Progeria syndrome, a genetic disorder that debilitates approximately 1-in-8 million children with stunted growth, rapidly advanced, or premature, aging, and the deterioration of one’s organs uncharacteristically early in life. 

“I loved Sam Berns and am richer for having known him,” Patriots owner Robert Kraft wrote in a statement following Berns’ death on Friday night.

“He was a special young man whose inspirational story and positive outlook on life touched my heart. I am so lucky to have had the opportunity to spend time with him and to get to know his incredible family.”

Berns, a Foxboro High School junior, was the subject of a 2013 HBO documentary about his family’s dogged search for a cure, called "Life According to Sam."

Click for Fox News story...

There is nothing I can add to the information surrounding the event of that fateful day, so I felt it would be my tribute to President Kennedy to share my experience and memory of that day.

I was just a child in the fourth grade living in Lynn, Massachusetts; and while I didn’t fully understand what it meant, like so many others, I will never forget that day or days that followed.

The news came into our classroom via a messenger and class was promptly dismissed.  The President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, had been shot.  As always after the school day, we went straight home, and as the day wore on and the news streamed in over our small black and white TV, my family and I were glued to the unfolding drama as Walter Cronkite kept a weeping nation apprised of the breaking developments.

We learned of his death, and we watched as the succession of power took place live as LBJ took the oath of office.  Never far from view was the now widowed first lady.  The epitome of grace throughout the entire episode, Jackie Kennedy held her composure as few could have.  I guess she felt that the nation needed her to be the face of strength in a time of immense personal and national tragedy.  She would have been correct; had she broken down, the sadness would have been even more unimaginable.

In the days that followed, we witnessed the suspect, Lee Harvey Oswald, shot to death in a Dallas Police Station by an up to that moment in time unknown businessman named Jack Ruby.  

We then sat dumb founded as one accusation and one theory after the other poured in up to the day of the funeral procession, and those theories have never stopped.  We watched as the procession passed the first family and Little John saluted the casket.  I remember feeling so badly for that poor kid.

The years have passed, and our nation has moved on as much as possible.  However, the lingering questions remain and we may never know the whole truth or the real impact of his untimely death.

The Patriots Press joins the rest of America in remembering you and honoring you on the 50th anniversary of passing.

Rest in Peace Mr. President.  Thank you for your life-long service to our nation.